Cervical-dorsal relaxation pad

ABSTRACT

A substantially U-shaped resilient pad for supporting the head and shoulders of a user while the user is lying face down. The spacing between the legs of the U-shaped pad is such that upper marginal edge portions of the legs support the cheeks of the user while the upper marginal edge portion of the connecting portion supports the user&#39;&#39;s forehead. The portion of the user&#39;&#39;s face between the legs thus is untouched by the pad. The ends of the legs opposite their connection with the connecting portion of the pad underlie the user&#39;&#39;s shoulders to support the shoulders in a raised, relaxed position. Support members under opposite ends of the pad support the pad with its upper surface inclined slightly from the horizontal.

' United States Patent Eischen, Sr.

CERVlCAL-DORSAL RELAXATION PAD Clement G. Eischen, Sr., 601 NE. 167thPlace, Portland, Oreg. 97230 Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 Appl. No.: 430,220

Related US. Application Data Inventor:

Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 352,199, April 18,

1973, abandoned.

US. Cl 128/68; 5/327 B; 5/338 Int. Cl. A61f 5/00 Field of Searchl28/68-70;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Lawrence W.Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kolisch, Hartwell, Dickinson & Stuart [57] ABSTRACT A substantially U-shaped resilient pad for supporting thehead and shoulders of a user while the user is lying face down. Thespacing between the legs of the U- shaped pad is such that uppermarginal edge portions of the legs support the cheeks of the user whilethe upper marginal edge portion of the connecting portion supports theusers forehead. The portion of the users face between the legs thus isuntouched by the pad. The ends of the legs opposite their connectionwith the connecting portion of the pad underlie the users shoulders tosupport the shoulders in a raised, relaxed position. Support membersunder opposite ends of the pad support the pad with its upper surfaceinclined slightly from the horizontal.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 2 3,926,181

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 US. Patent Dec.16, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,926,181

CERVICAL-DORSAL RELAXATION PAD This application is acontinuation-in-part of my prior abandoned application Ser. No. 352,199,filed Apr. 18, 1973.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device forsupporting a persons head and shoulders while lying face down.

There are many instances in which a person may wish to, or must, liewith his face down. An example of this is found in a situation in whicha person must lie in a face down position while being treated for neckor upper back injuries. In such instances it is often necessary tosupport the body in such a way that the muscles in the upper shoulderand neck regions are relaxed, rather than tense, as is the normaloccurrence should a person lie face down on a substantially planarsupport ive surface.

A general object of the invention is to provide a relaxation devicewhich will support a person while lying face down in such a manner thathis neck and upper back muscles will be in a relaxed position.

Another object is to provide a supporting device for the head andshoulders of a user lying face down, which will permit a comfortableresting position for the user, yet will provide breathing space for theperson.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a resilient,substantially U-shaped pad, on which the users cheeks and forehead mayrest, with central regions of the user s face untouched by the pad andwith end portions of the legs of the U-shaped pad providing support forthe users shoulders.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel support padfor the head and shoulders of a user lying in a face down position, inwhich the upper surface of the pad is inclined somewhat from thehorizontal to provide a more relaxing position for the user.

A still further object is to provide such a novel pad which is simple indesign, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, and easy andefficient to use.

DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantages will become more readilyapparent as the following description is read in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present inventionin use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the invention shown in FIG. 2 withportions broken away;

FIG. 4 is a view somewhat similar to that in FIG. 3, but illustrating amodified form of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to thedrawings, and first more specifically to FIG. 1, at is indicatedgenerally a device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the device is a substantiallyU-shaped resilient pad made of foam rubber, or other suitable materialso as to act as cushion means for a person when in use. A substantiallyrigid base member 11 of a similar U-shaped configuration is constructedof plywood, or other suitable material such as plastic, and is securedto the lower surface of the pad.

U-shaped pad 10 has a pair of elongate leg portions 10a, 10b which areinterconnected at one set of their ends by a joining portion 10c. Theupper surfaces of portions 10a, 10b, 10c define a substantially commonplanar upper surface.

As is best seen in FIG. 2, the interior sides 13a, 13b of leg portions10a, 10b, respectively, extend substantially parallel to each other in adirection longitudinally of the pad and thus define opposite sides of anopening extending longitudinally of the pad. The opening ex tends fullythrough one end of the pad and terminates short of the opposite end atinner arcuate wall 130 of joining portion 10c of the pad. Theside-to-side spacing between walls 13a, 13b of the U-shaped pad mayrange between 3 to 4 /2 inches, while the length of legs 10a, 10b asmeasured from wall 130 of the joining portion may range from 11 to 16inches.

Referring still to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the outer side walls14a, 14b of legs 10a, 10b, respectively, diverge on progressing towardthe open end of the U- shaped pad. The maximum distance between sides14a, 14b is at the open end of the pad and should be substantially equalto the width of the shoulders of the person who will be using it, i.e.,in a range of from 18 to 22 inches.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, secured to base plate11 are a pair of rear legs, or support members, 15 and a pair of frontlegs, or support members, 16. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3,legs 15 are shorter than legs 16. With such construction, when thedevice is placed on an underlying substantially horizontal supportivesurface, the upper surface of the pad will be inclined somewhatdownwardly from its closed end to its open end. A modified embodiment isillustrated in FIG. 4 in which front legs 16' are shorter than rear legs15 which would produce an incline downwardly from the open end to theclosed end of the pad. The embodiment illustrated with legs 15, 16 isthe type that would be used by persons having substantially straightdorsal spines, and the modification with legs 15', 16' could be used bypersons having considerable curvature of the spine.

In operation, the device of the invention would rest on an underlyingsupportive surface, such as the substantially horizontal top 20 of atable used for patient treatments, such as in physical therapy. As isseen in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, a person using the device lies face down withhis head 17 and his shoulders 18 supported by the pad.

Generally, the combined height of the pad and legs 15, 16 would be suchthat the upper surface of the pad at one end thereof would be spacedapproximately 4 to 5 inches above the supportive surface, while itsopposite end would be approximately 5 to 6 inches above the supportivesurface.

Explaining further, and referring specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6, thespacing between inner walls 13a, 13b of the legs of the U-shaped pad issuch that the users cheeks are supported on upper marginal edge portionsof legs 10a, 10b and his forehead may rest on an upper marginal edgeportion of joining portion adjacent wall at this end of the pad. Theremainder of the persons face between walls 13a, 13b, 130 of the pad isuntouched by the pad and free and open breathing is permitted. With theopening between legs 10a, 10b extending fully through one end of the padthere is no 3 possibility of pressure being applied to the front of theusers throat as may have occurred in using prior devices.

The users shoulders 18 are supported in a raised position by thespaced-apart end portions of legs a, 10b.

With such support provided for the users head and shoulders, they aremaintained in a substantially neutral. relaxing position. In thisposition the upper dorsal and shoulder muscles are relaxed and in properposition for therapeutic treatment, such as is provided in various typesof physical therapy.

The device of the invention has further uses also, in that it may beused for any reason in which the user wishes to lie face down and avoidthe difficulty imposed on breathing by lying with his face in aconventional pillow.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein,it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations andmodifications are possible without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by letters patent:

l. A device for supporting a users head and shoulders above a supportivesurface when such user is lying face down; said device comprising anelongate resilient pad having a substantially planar upper surface, saidpad having an elongate opening defined therein opening to said uppersurface, extending longitudinally of the pad and terminating short ofone end of said pad, said opening having such width that opposed uppermarginal edge portions of the pad on opposite sides of said opening maysupport the cheek regions of the users face and an upper marginal edgeportion of the pad adjacent said opening and said one end of the pad maysupport the users forehead, said opening having such depth that portionsof the users face between said opposed edge margins are untouched bysaid pad, said pad having such length that when the users forehead isresting on said marginal edge portion of the pad adjacent said one endof the pad the opposite end of the pad underlies and supports the usersshoulders above said supportive surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said opposite end of the pad has awidth substantially equal to the width of the users shoulders.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said opening extends fully through theend of said pad opposite its said one end.

4. The device of claim 1', which further comprises support meansoperable to support said pad on an underlying supportive surface withthe lower surface of the pad spaced above said supportive surface.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said support means comprises at least apair of spaced support members secured to said pad adjacent its oppositeends, said support members being different heights whereby they supportsaid pad with its upper surface inclined.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said pad is substantially U-shaped andthe space between opposed legs thereof may range from three to fourinches.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the length of said legs of theU-shaped pad may range from eleven to sixteen inches.

8. The device of claim 1, which further comprises a substantially rigidbase plate secured to the lower surface of said pad.

9. A device for supporting a users head and shoulders when lying facedown comprising a substantially U-shaped resilient pad having a pair ofelongate opposed spaced-apart leg portions and a joining portioninterconnecting said leg portions adjacent one end of the pad, said legand joining portions having a common substantially planar upper surface,the spacing between said leg portions being sufficient to permit aportion of a users face to rest in the space therebetween with uppermarginal edges of the leg portions engaging and supporting the userscheeks, and an upper marginal edge of said joining portion providingsupport for the users forehead, and the legs have such length that whenthe users forehead is supported by such joining portion the oppositeends of said legs are positioned to underlie and support the usersshoulders.

10. The device of claim 9, which further comprises first and secondsupport means secured to the underside of the resilient pad adjacentopposite ends of the pad for supporting said pad on an underlyingsupportive surface, one of said support means being operable to supportits associated end of the pad at a higher elevation than the other endof the pad.

1 1. The device of claim 9, wherein the space between said legs mayrange from three to four and one-half inches.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the length of said legs as measuredfrom the innermost side of said joining portion may range from eleven tosixteen inches.

13. The device of claim 9, which further comprises a substantially rigidbase plate secured to the lower surface of said pad.

1. A device for supporting a user''s head and shoulders above asupportive surface when such user is lying face down; said devicecomprising an elongate resilient pad having a substantially planar uppersurface, said pad having an elongate opening defined therein opening tosaid upper surface, extending longitudinally of the pad and terminatingshort of one end of said pad, said opening having such width thatopposed upper marginal edge portions of the pad on opposite sides ofsaid opening may support the cheek regions of the user''s face and anupper marginal edge portion of the pad adjacent said opening and saidone end of the pad may support the user''s forehead, said opening havingsuch depth that portions of the user''s face between said opposed edgemargins are untouched by said pad, said pad having such length that whenthe user''s forehead is resting on said marginal edge portion of the padadjacent said one end of the pad the opposite end of the pad underliesand supports the user''s shoulders above said supportive surface.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said opposite end of the pad has a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the user''s shoulders.
 3. The deviceof claim 1, wherein said opening extends fully through the end of saidpad opposite its said one end.
 4. The device of claim 1, which furthercomprises support means operable to support said pad on an underlyingsupportive surface with the lower surface of the pad spaced above saidsupportive surface.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said support meanscomprises at least a pair of spaced support members secured to said padadjacent its opposite ends, said support members being different heightswhereby they support said pad with its upper surface inclined.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said pad is substantially U-shaped and thespace between opposed legs thereof may range from three to four inches.7. The device of claim 6, wherein the length of said legs of theU-shaped pad may range from eleven to sixteen inches.
 8. The device ofclaim 1, which further comprises a substantially rigid base platesecured to the lower surface of said pad.
 9. A device for supporting auser''s head and shoulders when lying face down comprising asubstantially U-shaped resilient pad having a pair of elongate opposedspaced-apart leg portions and a joining portion interconnecting said legportions adjacent one end of the pad, said leg and joining portionshaving a common substantially planar upper surface, the spacing betweensaid leg portions being sufficient to permit a portion of a user''s faceto rest in the space therebetween with upper marginal edges of the legportions engaging and supporting the user''s cheeks, and an uppermarginal edge of said joining portion providing support for the user''sforehead, and the legs have such length that when the user''s foreheadis supported by such joining portion the opposite ends of said legs arepositioned to underlie and support the user''s shoulders.
 10. The deviceof claim 9, which further comprises first and second support meanssecured to the underside of the resilient pad adjacent opposite ends ofthe pad for supporting said pad on an underlying supportive surface, oneof said support means being operable to support its associated end ofthe pad at a higher elevation than the other end of the pad.
 11. Thedevice of claim 9, wherein the space between said legs may range fromthree to four and one-half inches.
 12. The device of claim 9, whereinthe length of said legs as measured from the innermost side of saidjoining portion may range from eleven to sixteen inches.
 13. The deviceof claim 9, which further comprises a substantially rigid base platesecured to the lower surface of said pad.